Envelope with remoistenable adhesive and water-insoluble flavoring agent

ABSTRACT

An envelope has a main panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and a seal flap; a standard adhesive applied to the bottom panel or the pair of opposing side panels for bonding the bottom panel to each of the pair of opposing side panels; and a layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap, the composition having a its essential ingredients an adhesive and a water-insoluble flavoring agent in an emulsion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to envelopes with remoistenable adhesive gummed seal flaps, and more particularly to envelopes wherein the remoistenable adhesive includes an essential oil emulsion for flavoring.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] Making envelopes with remoistenable adhesive gummed seal flaps that do not have an offensive taste or odor is well known. Boyajian, U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,395, for example, teaches the use of polyvinyl alcohol as an adhesive because it avoids the foul taste of chemically modified dextrin. This reference also teaches the addition of granulated cane sugar to the adhesive, but this is done for the purpose of improving the integrity of the polyvinyl alcohol solution, and not for the purposes of improving the flavor of the adhesive. The reference teaches that the cane sugar should be omitted if boiling alone makes the polyvinyl alcohol solution workable.

[0007] Shapiro, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,860, teaches a fragrance releasing envelope that includes a foldable envelope blank that includes a closure flap presealed with a temporary bond including microencapsulated fragrance dispersed within an adhesive matrix.

[0008] The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.

[0009] The prior art teaches envelopes that include adhesives that are adapted to not have an offensive taste, and that sometimes include granulated sugar. The prior art also teaches the addition of fragrance to the adhesive of an envelope to improve the scent. However, the prior art does not teach the addition of a flavoring emulsion that adds specialty flavors to the envelope adhesive, without interfering with the effectiveness of the adhesive. The prior art also does not teach the coordination of a flavoring emulsion with a color of the envelope. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0011] The present invention provides an envelope that includes a main panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and a seal flap; a standard adhesive applied to the bottom panel or the pair of opposing side panels for bonding the bottom panel to each of the pair of opposing side panels; and a layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap, the composition having a its essential ingredients an adhesive, a water-insoluble flavoring agent, and an emulsion means.

[0012] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an envelope having advantages not taught by the prior art.

[0013] Another objective is to provide an envelope that includes a remoistenable adhesive gummed seal flap that is flavored with a water-insoluble flavoring agent such as an essential oil.

[0014] A further objective is to provide an envelope with an adhesive that retains good sealing qualities despite the inclusion of the water-insoluble flavoring agent.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, an envelope 10 having a remoistenable adhesive coating composition 12 that is flavored, pleasant to taste, and does not have a bitter aftertaste, yet still maintains desirable adhesive characteristics.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the envelope 10 is similar to envelopes well known in the art, having a main panel 14, a pair of opposing side panels 16, a bottom panel 18, and a seal flap 20. In a first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the pair of opposing side panels 16 are adapted to fold towards each other where they overlap and are bonded to each other with a first standard adhesive 22; and the bottom panel 18 is adapted to fold over the pair of opposing side panels 16 to close the bottom of the envelope 10. The bottom panel 18 is bonded to each of the pair of opposing side panels 16 with a second standard adhesive 24, thereby forming a compartment 26 having an opening perimeter 28.

[0021] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom panel 18 is bonded to the pair of opposing side panels 16 with the second standard adhesive 24, but the pair of opposing side panels 16 are not bonded to each other. While these two well known examples are shown, the invention can be adapted to any of the many varieties of envelopes that are well known in the art.

[0022] The seal flap 20 is adapted to cover the opening perimeter 28 and, when sealed to the pair of opposing side panels 16 and/or the bottom panel 18, close the compartment 26. The layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition 12 disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap 20 is used to close the compartment 26, as is well known in the art.

[0023] Essential to the invention, the layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition 12 has as its essential ingredients an adhesive, a water-insoluble flavoring agent, and an emulsion means. The adhesive can be selected from any of the many known adhesives known in the art, including but not limited to dextrin, vinyl acetate, water soluble plastics such as polyvinyl alcohol, and vinyl acetate emulsions. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive is vinyl acetate, which does not interfere with the flavoring emulsion. In the most preferred embodiment, the adhesive is the liquid adhesive sold under the name ROYAL DEX™ by National Starch and Chemical Company of Bridgewater, N.J.

[0024] The water-insoluble flavoring agent can be a volatile, water-insoluble essential oil such as orange oil, wintergreen, cinnamon, and spearmint. The water-insoluble flavoring agent is preferably an industrial grade, concentrated oil that is not diluted in the manner of many retail flavoring oils. For purposes of this application, oleoresins are included within the scope of the term volatile essential oils, along with related water-insoluble, volatile agents having similar and/or equivalent flavoring qualities. The water-insoluble flavoring agent can also include similar water-insoluble, volatile artificial flavors and compounded flavors. Examples of preferred flavors include cherry, orange, banana, watermelon, blueberry, grape, bubblegum, rootbeer, chocolate, coffee, caramel, pineapple, and egg-nog.

[0025] The composition 12 also includes an emulsion means for maintaining the water-insoluble flavoring agent in emulsion. The emulsion means can be provided by polysorbate 60, any similar or related compounds, or any of the carbohydrate gums or similar emulsifiers well known in the art. In one embodiment, the emulsion means is a combination of Xanthan Gum and Tragacanth Gum. In another embodiment, the presently preferred embodiment, the emulsion means is polysorbate 60.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the composition 12 includes vinyl acetate, a volatile essential oil, and polysorbate 60. This particular combination has proven to provide a pleasant taste while still maintaining good adhesive characteristics. Preferred volatile essential oils include orange oil, or a combination of cinnamon oil and spearmint oil.

[0027] In one embodiment, the composition 12 further includes sodium saccharine. It has been found that the sodium saccharine, in combination with the volatile essential oil, further improves the flavor without interfering with the adhesive.

[0028] In one embodiment, the flavor of the composition 12 is selected and associated with a characteristic color 30 that compliments the water-insoluble flavoring agent. Once the flavor of the composition 12 has been associated with the characteristic color 30, the envelope 10 is dyed or otherwise imprinted with the characteristic color 30. For purposes of this application, when we say that the envelope 10 is dyed we intend this to include dying, marking, or otherwise colored, in full or in part, so that the characteristic color 30 forms a powerful sensory impression and is readily apparent to a consumer who might be attempting to select a flavor. For example, red bears and/or hearts 30A could be stamped on the envelope 10, a red border 30B could be printed on the envelope 10, or the entire envelope 10 could be dyed red. As long as the characteristic color 30 is projected clearly to the consumer, this should be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0029] It is expected that often the steps of adding dye or printing will often be performed by third party manufacturers and printers, and delivered pre-printed for addition of the flavored composition 12. The critical step is the selection of the envelope 10 with the characteristic color 30 and the association that is made between the characteristic color 30 and the flavor of the composition 12.

[0030] The standard adhesive is used to bond the bottom panel 18 and the pair of opposing side panels 16, as described above, and finally, the remoistenable adhesive coating composition 12, containing the selected water-insoluble flavoring agent, is disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap 20.

[0031] The characteristic color 30 of the envelope 10 is selected to compliment the flavor of the composition 12 that is applied to the envelope 10. For example, the combination of cinnamon oil and spearmint oil, which tastes like rootbeer, is associated with the envelope 10 that is colored brown. A cherry flavored composition 12 could be associated with the envelope 10 that is colored red. Other examples of flavors and their associated color or colors can be devised by those skilled in the art, and should be considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] A cherry flavor that is adapted for use with the present invention includes water, sodium saccharin, artificial flavors, a combination of Xanthan Gum and Tragacanth Gum, citric acid, and sodium benzoate. The cherry flavor has a specific gravity of 1.0200-1.1200, a pH level of 4.0-5.0, a refractive index of 1.3510-1.3810. Other flavors can be developed by those skilled in the art given the teachings of the present invention, including banana, grape, and other fruit flavors, and also including wintergreen, spearmint, rootbeer, and other flavors as described above.

[0033] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An envelope comprising: a main panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and a seal flap; a standard adhesive applied to the bottom panel or the pair of opposing side panels for bonding the bottom panel to each of the pair of opposing side panels; and a layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap, the composition having a its essential ingredients an adhesive, a water-insoluble flavoring agent, and an emulsion means.
 2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the composition further includes sodium saccharine.
 3. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the water-insoluble flavoring agent is a combination of cinnamon oil and spearmint oil.
 4. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the emulsion means is polysorbate
 60. 5. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is vinyl acetate.
 6. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the emulsion means is a combination of Xanthan Gum and Tragacanth Gum.
 7. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the combination includes vinyl acetate, a volatile essential oil, polysorbate 60, and sodium saccharine.
 8. An envelope comprising: a main panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and a seal flap; a standard adhesive applied to the bottom panel or the pair of opposing side panels for bonding the bottom panel to each of the pair of opposing side panels; and a layer of remoistenable adhesive coating composition disposed on at least a portion of the seal flap, the composition having a its essential ingredients vinyl acetate, a water-insoluble flavoring agent, sodium saccharine, citric acid, sodium benzoate, and polysorbate
 60. 9. The envelope of claim 8 wherein the water-insoluble flavoring agent is a volatile essential oil.
 10. The method of creating an envelope having a characteristic color that compliments an water-insoluble flavoring agent of a remoistenable adhesive coating composition, the method comprising the steps of: selecting the water-insoluble flavoring agent; selecting the characteristic color that compliments the water-insoluble flavoring agent; providing an envelope having a main panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and a seal flap, at least a portion of the envelope being dyed or imprinted with the characteristic color, the envelope further having a standard adhesive on the bottom panel or the pair of opposing side panels such that the bottom panel is bonded to each of the pair of opposing side panels; providing a remoistenable adhesive coating composition, the composition having as its essential ingredients an adhesive, the water-insoluble flavoring agent, and an emulsion means; and disposing a layer of the composition on at least a portion of the seal flap.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the composition includes sodium saccharine.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the water-insoluble flavoring agent is a combination of cinnamon oil and spearmint oil and the characteristic color is brown.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the emulsion means is polysorbate
 60. 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the emulsion means is a combination of Xanthan Gum and Tragacanth Gum.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the adhesive is vinyl acetate.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein the combination includes vinyl acetate, a volatile essential oil, and polysorbate
 60. 17. The method of claim 10 wherein the combination includes vinyl acetate, a volatile essential oil, polysorbate 60, and sodium saccharine. 